title: Empowering underserved populations through cancer prevention and early detection.
abstract: It is well documented that cancer is disproportionately distributed in racial/ethnic minority groups and medically underserved communities. In addition, cancer prevention and early detection represent the key defenses to combat cancer. The purpose of this article is to showcase the comprehensive health education and community outreach activities at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute (Moffitt) designed to promote and increase access to and utilization of prevention and early detection services among underserved populations. One of Moffitt's most important conduits for cancer prevention and early detection among underserved populations is through its community education and outreach initiatives, in particular, the Moffitt Program for Outreach Wellness Education and Resources (M-POWER). M-POWER works to empower underserved populations to make positive health choices and increase screening behaviors through strengthening collaboration and partnerships, providing community-based health education/promotion, and increasing access to care. Effective, empowering, and culturally and linguistically competent health education and community outreach, is key to opening the often impenetrable doors of cancer prevention and early detection to this society's most vulnerable populations.
authors.affiliation: Moffitt Diversity, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Venessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rivera-Colón
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Jenna L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escobar
authors.forename: Nikki Ross
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Inda
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paige
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palencia
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vives
authors.forename: Cathy G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: B Lee
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D019982:Organizational Case Studies